Former President Jimmy Carter Reveals He Has Cancer That Has Spread to Other Parts of His Body

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter revealed on Wednesday that he has cancer that started in his liver but is spreading. The disease was discovered after the 90-year-old underwent surgery to remove a small mass in his liver on Aug. 3.

“Recent liver surgery revealed that I have cancer that now is in other parts of my body,” Carter said in a statement Wednesday. “I will be rearranging my schedule as necessary so I can undergo treatment by physicians at Emory Healthcare.”

It is unclear where exactly the cancer has spread, but the former president said he plans to release more details on his condition “possibly by next week.”

Carter’s recent elective procedure at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta “proceeded without issues,” and he was expected to make a full recovery, his nonprofit Carter Center said in a statement at the time.

The 39th President of the United States, who served from 1977 to 1981, was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.”

President Obama said in a statement that he and First Lady Michelle Obama are sending their “best wishes” to Carter for a “fast and full recovery.”

“Jimmy, you’re as resilient as they come, and along with the rest of America, we are rooting for you,” the president added.

Carter also received a call from Obama on Wednesday.

Principal Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz tells PEOPLE: “This evening the President had the opportunity to speak with President Carter to wish him a full and speedy recovery. The President extended best wishes on behalf of himself and the First Lady.”